Apple Cider Syrup
Try it drizzled on apple pie!
Ingredients:
¾ cup apple cider
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon lemon juice
Small pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg
Method:
1. Combine apple cider, brown sugar, butter, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat, bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
3. Remove from heat. Let cool for at least half an hour before using. Serve warm. (Syrup will thicken as it cools. If you’d like a thicker syrup, simmer it longer.) Refrigerate any unused portion in a sealed jar/container.
Fresh Herb Rub
This versatile rub is delicious on steak, chicken, fish or even veggies!
Ingredients:
¼ cup coarse sea salt
¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons chopped fresh golden oregano
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
3 tablespoons minced garlic
Method:
1. Mix all ingredients together to form a paste. Rub directly on meat or poultry, cover with plastic wrap, and marinate overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
Herbed Smoked Salmon Salad with Watercress
Serve this creamy salmon salad atop a bed of greens with sliced cucumber and tomatoes on the side.
Ingredients:
1 package smoked salmon (about 8 ounces), flaked
4 cups watercress, trimmed, washed and patted dry with a paper towel
½ cup crème fraîche
3 tablespoons chopped celery
3 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
¼ cup chopped tender herbs, such as chives, oregano and parsley
1 clove garlic, pressed
¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a small bowl, combine crème fraîche with garlic and olive oil and whisk to combine. Season generously with salt and pepper.
2. In another mixing bowl, combine smoked salmon, capers, celery and herbs. Toss with crème fraîche dressing.
3. Serve smoked salmon salad over a bed of watercress, with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers alongside.
Village Salad
The classic Mediterranean salad, tossed with tomatoes, pepperoncini, olives and feta.
Ingredients:
1-2 heirloom tomatoes depending on size, cut into bite sized chunks
½ cup sliced pepperoncini
1 cup Kalamata olives
¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons fresh oregano or other fresh herb of your choice, stripped of stems and chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place the tomatoes, cucumbers and pepperoncini in a bowl. Mix in the olives.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, oregano, and salt and pepper, and pour over the salad to coat. Toss well then sprinkle with feta cheese.
Sage-Infused Butter
The perfect finishing touch for al dente pasta!
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons fresh sage leaves, coarsely torn
¼ cup butter
Method:
1. In a small skillet, melt butter with sage leaves, swirling to coat. Bring to light simmer, turn off heat and allow to cool slightly. Remove leaves and toss infused butter with pasta.
Watercress Salad with F&L Honey-Orange Vinaigrette
This light and bright salad is the perfect summer side.
Ingredients:
8-10 cups watercress, trimmed
2 oranges, peeled and sectioned
1 avocado, pitted and sliced
¼ cup dried cranberries
F&L orange-honey vinaigrette
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large bowl, combine watercress, oranges, avocado and cranberries. Drizzle about ½ cup of the vinaigrette over the salad; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt, pepper and additional vinaigrette, as desired.
Roasted Corn Fritters
This savory-sweet fritters are wonderful served with this week’s Alder-smoked tomato honey.
Ingredients:
4 ears of sweet corn
F&L corn fritter mix
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for frying
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To prep the corn, shuck the ears and lightly rub each cob with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper before roasting in a 400° oven about 10 minutes or until kernels begin to brown. Allow to cool and then cut kernels cut from the cob.
2. Combine the corn kernels in a bowl along with the corn fritter mix, milk and melted butter; stir to combine.
3. Meanwhile, heat about 1 cup of vegetable oil in a deep sauté pan; once hot, drop spoonfuls of the prepared batter into the pot and fry the fritters until golden brown on all sides, about 2 minutes.
4. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired and serve with a side of tomato honey.
Honey-Poached Pears with Dried Cranberries
This lovely recipe uses honey to draw out the mellow sweetness of pears.
Ingredients:
6 firm but ripe pears, peeled, cored and halved
1 cup honey
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Pinch fine sea salt
½ cup dried cranberries
Method:
1. Combine 2½ cups water, honey, lemon juice, and sea salt in large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Add pears; reduce heat and simmer until tender, turning occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, depending on ripeness. Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to medium bowl. Boil liquid until reduced to 1 cup syrup, about 22 minutes. Pour syrup over pears. Cover and chill until cold, about 2 hours.
3. Divide pears and syrup among 6 bowls. Top each with a sprinkling of dried cranberries and serve slightly chilled or at room temperature with a dollop of slightly sweetened crème fraîche and a shortbread cookie, if desired.
Oven-Roasted Cauliflower
Tossed with our bright lemon-caper dressing, this recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse is a snap to make.
Ingredients:
5-6 cups cauliflower florets
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup F&L lemon-caper dressing
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 500°. Place the cauliflower florets on a baking sheet. Drizzle the olive oil over the cauliflower, and season liberally salt and pepper.
2. Place the sheet pan in the oven and cook for 15 minutes or until cauliflower is tender and browned in places, shaking occasionally to ensure even roasting. Remove from the oven and drizzle with the lemon-caper vinaigrette. Serve warm or at room temperature.